Actress Reese Witherspoon is preparing for a messy Easter with her family - she's planning a bizarre egg race.

The Walk the Line star lives on a California ranch with new husband Jim Toth and her two children and reveals having 21 chickens on her farm has its perks around Easter.

She recently got creative with the surplus eggs and decided to implement a new family tradition for the holiday - although the Oscar winner admits the games she has planned for this weekend (23-24 Apr '11) will end in a big stink.

Witherspoon says, "I was trying to think of new games you can play. So I went online and there's this game where you stuff as many eggs into your tube socks as possible. And then you have to run a race. And whoever ends up at the end of the race with the least amount of broken eggs wins!

"It's actually super fun, because the adults get competitive. We started whacking each other's shins and ankles, grabbing each other, taking each other down. Especially me, because I'm a little bit competitive. Literally, it's disgusting. And it smells like rotten eggs for about three weeks. But it's fun." »

Actress Paz De La Huerta has been hit with a lawsuit stemming from her alleged attack on a reality TV star in a New York nightclub last month.

The Boardwalk Empire actress is accused of throwing a glass at former The City star Samantha Swetra and punching her in the face.

De la Huerta was charged with five misdemeanours over the incident and slapped with a temporary restraining order from Swetra earlier this week.

But her legal woes don't end there - on Friday, Swetra's lawyer Stephanie Ovadia filed court papers against de la Huerta, claiming her client has suffered "severe" physical and emotional injuries, "some of which... are permanent in nature".

A source tells TMZ.com Swetra has prolonged pain in her nose and is now having trouble breathing. She is seeking unspecified damages for the alleged altercation.

However, de la Huerta's lawyer has vowed to fight the accusations. The rep tells TMZ, "We plan to tell our side of the story in the courtroom, with the real facts, not in the media." »

A representative for Rupert Grint has shot down reports the actor has been caught on camera smoking a bong, insisting the man featured in an allegedly incriminating photo is not the Harry Potter star.

A grainy photograph, posted on PerezHilton.com on Thursday, was said to show the British actor lighting up.

However, a spokesperson for the 22 year old has spoken out to deny any drug use speculation.

His rep tells E! News, "This is categorically Not Rupert Grint. It is an impersonator/lookalike."

Grint is not the only young actor to find himself caught up in a bong controversy - Disney star Miley Cyrus hit headlines in December when video footage of the teen smoking psychoactive plant Salvia emerged online - just days after she celebrated her 18th birthday. »

Charlie Sheen's police escort to his show in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday is under investigation by state officials after it emerged the move was not properly authorised.

The former Two and a Half Men star was running late to his one-man comedy gig after he was held up in a Los Angeles court following a custody hearing with his estranged wife Brooke Mueller.

The troubled actor faced a mad dash across the U.S. to make it to his concert on the east coast in time and revealed on his Twitter.com account that he had been given special treatment by cops upon landing at Dulles International Airport in D.C..

He wrote, "In car with police escort in front and rear! Driving like someone's about to deliver a baby! Cop car lights #Spinning!"

He also posted a picture taken from the window of the car showing the police lights up ahead.

But Sheen's blog posts have landed the officers involved in trouble with department bosses - according to local councilman Phil Mendleson, D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier did not grant permission for the escort.

On Friday, spokeswoman Gwendolyn Crump confirmed the department's internal affairs unit was investigating the incident. The police representative refused to comment further on the controversy.

Sheen eventually took to the stage at the D.A.R. Constitution Hall an hour late. »

Robert Pattinson boasted about having connections to royalty when he first moved to America, even though he has never met Britain's most famous family.

The Twilight star left his native U.K. and moved to the U.S. prior to landing the lead role in the hit vampire franchise, and admits he used his British charm to win over American acquaintances.

Pattinson even pretended to be friends with Britain's young royals in a bid to impress new pals, confessing his ploy to U.S. TV host Jimmy Kimmel.

He says, "I don't think I've ever met them (the royals). I used to tell people when I came to the States that I did. They believed me! Five or six years ago when I first used to come to Los Angeles there weren't many English people, now there are like a million and people still believe me." »

Model/actress Ali Landry and her director husband Alejandro Monteverde are expecting their second child.

Landry is three-and-a-half months pregnant and is due to give birth in the winter. The tot will be a little brother or sister for the couple's three-year-old daughter Estela.

She tells Life & Style magazine, "I found out on Valentine’s Day and told my husband and daughter together - they were both so excited!

"I love being pregnant. Being a mum is just the best thing in the entire world."

Landry wed Monteverde in 2006. The former beauty queen was briefly married to Saved By The Bell star Mario Lopez, but had the union annulled two weeks later after the actor admitted to cheating on her. »

Embattled actor Charlie Sheen has followed through on his promise to match funds raised for a bipolar disorder charity by handing over a big cheque to the organisation on Thursday.

The star hosted an auction during his live one-man show in Toronto, Canada last week (ends17Apr11), raising thousands of dollars for the Organization for Bipolar Affective Disorders.

Sheen offered to generously double the total amount raised by fans and he's stuck to his word - the former Two and a Half Men actor donated an extra $5,880 (£3,675) to charity bosses this week.

The organisation's director, Kaj Korvela, tells the New York Daily News, "We're happy to receive the funds, and we'll use them to help people with serious chronic mental health issues and spread awareness about mental health." »

Actor Jesse L. Martin fears his plans to produce and star in a biopic about legendary soul icon Marvin Gaye are not meant to be - because it's proving "impossible" to bring to fruition.

The former Law & Order star has been attached to Sexual Healing since 2008, when he signed on to help The Sopranos' James Gandolfini bring the tragic singer's life story, adapted from Steven Turner's book Trouble Man, to the big screen.

Controversial director Julien Temple took charge of the movie in February, taking over from previous filmmakers Cameron Crowe and F. Gary Gray, but the project has been hit by a series of problems and delays due to difficulties clearing the rights to Gaye's music.

And Martin admits he's no longer holding out for the role.

He tells WENN, "(Making the film is) impossible. It's just not... I don't know (if it'll happen). I mean, I just sort of threw that one up to the universe and said, 'If it's meant to be, it'll be', but it seems impossible to put together, it really does. It just hasn't happened."

Sexual Healing is just one of several Gaye biopics in the works, but Martin insists all of the films have faced the same licensing issues and he's now contemplating other ways to tell the story.

He says, "There's five or six (other Gaye projects) in the works. I actually feel less pressure. There's so many stories out there trying to happen that it just seems like it might be impossible. Nobody's done it yet. We haven't done it, nobody else has either, so there seems to be a reason you haven't seen that story on the big screen yet. I don't know what it is, but we're gonna have to change tactics and do it on stage, or something like that. That would actually be a great idea! So we'll see, we'll see." »

Actress Denise Richards has confirmed reports she offered to help take care of her ex-husband Charlie Sheen's young twins with estranged wife Brooke Mueller, despite admitting they are "not in the best place".

Richards divorced the former Two and a Half Men star in 2006, but they have remained close for the sake of their two daughters Sam, seven, and Lola, five.

The troubled actor is currently locked in a custody battle with Mueller over their twin boys, and it was rumoured former Bond girl Richards had volunteered to look after the kids while Sheen tours the U.S. with his one-man comedy show and Mueller reportedly seeks help in rehab.

The actress admits her relationship with her ex is rocky, but she felt compelled to offer her services to ensure the kids were well taken care of.

During an appearance on U.S. TV show Watch What Happens Live on Thursday, she says, "We're not in the best place right now, to be honest with you. But I do still communicate with him... I offered (to help). I wasn't asking for custody or anything like that. I put it out several times over the last couple of years that if they need help, I'm here. I would love the boys to stay and be with the girls... I give Brooke a lot of credit."

But although Richards will always have a soft spot for the embattled actor, it doesn't mean she approves of his bizarre behaviour.

She adds, "For me, it's very sad to see him on this path. I've heard he's chosen to use me in part of his tour (material), and that's hurtful. But that's his choice... He can do what he wants in his show... This is his lifestyle, and I've accepted it." »

James Franco is set to continue his studies in 2012 after enrolling at the University of Houston in Texas.

The Oscar-nominated actor is currently working towards his Ph.D. in English at Yale University and is already making plans to continue his education after the course finishes.

He has won a place at the University of Houston to study his second Ph.D., in literature and creative writing, and will join the program in September next year.

The Spider-Man star's long list of qualifications includes an undergraduate degree from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and a Master of Fine Arts (Mfa) from Columbia University in New York. »

Glee star Jenna Ushkowitz will forgo gifts during her upcoming birthday celebrations as she is asking for charity donations instead of presents.

The actress is a keen supporter of Oceana, an organisation which aims to help ocean conservation, especially in the aftermath of last year's Gulf of Mexico oil spill.

Ushkowitz is set to turn 25 next week, and to mark her birthday she wants her friends, family and fans to donate $25 (£15.60) to Oceana.

In a video message, Ushkowitz says, "My 25th birthday is coming up on April 28th and I was very inspired by Paul Rudd's choice to have his friends and family and everyone he knows to donate to a charity close to his heart.

"I'm asking you guys to help me celebrate my 25th birthday by donating to Oceana. I'm asking everyone I know to donate $25, the age I'm turning, or whatever you can give, to this wonderful non-profit organisation that is helping our marine life and our oceans for our future.

"We are celebrating the year anniversary of the Bp oil spill. Let's make a difference and make sure nothing like that happens (again)."

Actor Paul Rudd raised money for the American Cancer Society for his birthday earlier this month. »

Movie bosses behind Salma Hayek and Kevin James' new film Here Comes The Boom have instigated eco-friendly rules to make the shoot as green as possible.

The actors are currently filming the new comedy on location in Massachusetts, and the set has been specially designed to reduce waste and help the planet.

Plastic water bottles have been banned along with non-biodegradable paper cups, costumes are sent to an environmentally-friendly dry-cleaner, and the set has been made using sustainable bamboo. Actors and crew members are also being encouraged to recycle.

A production spokesperson tells the Boston Herald, "We strive to reduce waste and recycle as much as possible. Eliminating water bottles reduces the transportation of those bottles and excess waste after use. Similarly, dry cleaning, energy generation and sustainable lumber are a focus due to their supply chain impacts." »

Actress Malin Akerman is hopeful her new war film The Bang Bang Club will help further raise awareness of the dangers reporters face covering world events, following the death of two photojournalists in Libya earlier this week (begs18Apr11).

Filmmaker Tim Hetherington and photographer Chris Hondros were covering the ongoing unrest in the country when they were caught in an explosion in Misrata on Wednesday.

Akerman was stunned to learn of their untimely deaths as she promoted her new movie, which tells the stories of photojournalists who capture the violence that erupted during the Apartheid period in South Africa.

She tells MTV News, "It's crazy. No matter what, whether it be now or two years ago, the untimely death of Tim Hetherington and Chris is sad and really awful and incredible that it happened as this movie is coming out.

"It's never the wrong moment to shed light on it. It is incredible how relevant... this film is to what is going on in Libya. I hope people come out of this film and go, 'All right, let's look overseas and see what's happening and see what we can do.'"

And the actress is full of praise for snappers who risk their lives to cover dangerous stories: "They're crazy. They really are adrenaline junkies. I just saw Greg Marinovich, who is one of the photographers (who inspired the film), and he walks around at all times with two cameras... He never leaves home without his cameras. It's a limb for them, it's an extension of their bodies, it's what they live for." »

Lindsay Lohan has failed to win her dream role in Oliver Stone's new movie Savages, reportedly losing out to rival Blake Lively.

The troubled actress recently admitted she was keen to try out for a part in the upcoming drugs drama, touting it as "the role I really want".

But reports suggest the job has now gone to Gossip Girl star Lively, who was seen as Lohan's main rival for the role of a kidnap victim.

John Travolta and Uma Thurman have also signed up to star in the adaptation of Don Winslow's bestselling novel, alongside Taylor Kitsch, Aaron Johnson, Salma Hayek and Benicio Del Toro, according to Deadline.com. »

Soccer superstar David Beckham won't be partying into the early hours when he attends Britain's royal wedding next week - he has to jet straight back to the U.S. the next day to be ready for an upcoming match.

The sports ace has been given permission by Los Angeles Galaxy coach Bruce Arena to attend Prince William's marriage to Kate Middleton, but he is needed for his team's game against Fc Dallas two days after the wedding.

So he plans to attend the ceremony with his singer-turned-fashion designer wife Victoria next Friday and catch an early flight to Texas the following morning.

Beckham says, "Obviously, it's not ideal with the travel, but it's a royal wedding and those don't come around very often. So I'll be there for the game, but it'll be down to Bruce to decide if I play or not.

"I'll go to the wedding on Friday and then I'll fly out of London straight to Dallas on Saturday morning... Bruce understands and the club understands that obviously it's important." »

Tom Arnold and his fourth wife are consulting doctors as they battle to conceive a baby.

The funnyman married Ashley Groussman in 2009 and they are currently trying to start a family, but their attempts have been hampered by Arnold's low sperm count.

The 52 year old, who counts Roseanne Barr among his ex-wives, admits he had some sperm frozen 15 years ago and the couple is now consulting doctors about getting some extra help conceiving.

He tells PopEater, "I had some (sperm) frozen 15 years ago that we brought out. We're in the process of this now. We've decided it's going to happen 100 per cent; we're going to have children no matter how it happens. I'm not going to let my low sperm count derail Ashley's dreams of being a mother and mine too. We will make it happen."

Arnold also reveals he is convinced that after three failed marriages, he has found a permanent partner in Groussman.

He adds, "I've learned a lot. I know Ashley is different from anyone I've ever met... When I think about it (the divorces) now I'm horrified. How could I have wasted so much money, and time and energy? Divorce is just brutally painful and I went through it and then I did it again and then I did it again. The thing is, I know it sounds like a cliche but if I hadn't have gone through all that I wouldn't have met Ashley. But this is it." »

Mel Gibson found working on his new movie The Beaver to be a cathartic experience as he was able to pour his battle with depression into the role.

The Hollywood actor plays a man struggling with dark moods who uses a glove puppet as an outlet for his feelings, and Gibson was able to empathise with his character because he has struggled with the condition himself.

And the Braveheart star is convinced learning to understand the disorder helped him battle his own demons.

He tells Deadline.com, "Depression is like that. It's somewhere one can be caught. You can get stuck there. Initially, it does stem from a certain amount of egotism... What does it do to everyone around in the family? It is an illness. It is a disease. And, I think there is a better understanding of it.

"A guy said to me one time, something really profound, and it's so simple. It's that depression lies. It's a liar and you have to shut it down. There is nothing that alleviates it more than going out and doing something for someone else. It's almost like instant healing. Get away from yourself.

"People can't even get out of bed and it gets really severe. I've never been at that stage. Everyone goes through low and high and low and high and some people are blessed to be created on an even keel all the way through - but not me." »

Dame Helen Mirren is excited about the upcoming wedding of Prince William in her native Britain, but "feels" for bride-to-be Kate Middleton because of the pressure she is now facing.

The veteran actress, who won an Oscar for her portrayal of the prince's grandmother Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen, is looking forward to watching the nuptials on 29 April.

But Mirren admits she empathises with 29-year-old Middleton over the amount of attention she is receiving as a future queen.

She tells Ok! TV, "I'm not quite sure where I'll be (when the wedding takes place), but I know wherever I am it will be on the telly. It doesn't matter where I'll be... you know, Bulgaria... the countryside, there will be a little pub with the wedding on. Everybody all over the world I guess will be glued to it.

"I do feel for (Middleton)... the stress of all of that must be so huge and my heart does go out to Kate. Queen Kate, I love the idea of Queen Kate... They're a lovely couple." »

Rosie O'Donnell is adamant she "didn't really break up" with her girlfriend Tracy Kachtick-anders earlier this year, dismissing rumours she recently patched up the romance as her partner's son underwent heart surgery.

The funnywoman was reported to have split from the Texan artist back in February, but rumours of a reconciliation surfaced earlier this month when O'Donnell revealed she was helping Kachtick-Anders take care of her sick seven-year-old son Wyatt.

However, O'Donnell has brushed off speculation they recently got back together, insisting they never really parted ways in the first place and putting their problems down to dealing with a combined brood of 10 children.

During a chat with Howard Stern on her Sirius Xm Rosie Radio show, she said, "We didn't really break up. She just has six kids... and I have four. It's insanity."

O'Donnell has four children of her own with ex-wife Kelli Carpenter, while Kachtick-Anders is a mum-of-six. »

Gwyneth Paltrow has confirmed she is "thinking about" signing a record deal, but finds the prospect of launching a solo music career "a little scary".

The actress showed off her vocal skills by playing a struggling singer in last year's Country Strong, while also showcasing her talent with a recurring role in TV musical Glee. She has also performed live at events including the recent Academy Awards and the Grammys.

Paltrow insists recent reports which suggest she has inked a deal with Atlantic Records are untrue - but she is open to signing a contract and releasing an album in the future.

She tells U.S. chat show host Ellen DeGeneres, "Well, I haven't signed anything but I'm thinking about it. I kind of have to get my head around the concept of it and how I would want to do it. Do it in a right way.

"It's hard to think of switching because all the singing I've been doing has been coming out of Country Strong or Glee. So I think, how would I do that? Just a record by myself feels a little scary to me. I would like to in theory but we'll see.

"I like all kinds of music. I don't think it would be a real poppy record. (Britney Spears has) cornered that market."

Mel Gibson is adamant he was not "offended" when he was cut from the cast of The Hangover sequel - he simply decided to "let that go" and "move on".

The troubled actor was hired to play the role of a tattoo artist in upcoming movie The Hangover Part II opposite the original film's stars, Bradley Cooper, Zach Galifianakis, Justin Bartha and Ed Helms.

The casting came after a tough few months for Gibson, who hit headlines when he was accused of attacking his ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva, while their taped arguments subsequently emerged on the internet.

Gibson never got to film the cameo as he was cut from the movie before he was due on set, with director Todd Phillips admitting the Braveheart star did not have "the full support of my entire cast and crew."

But the actor insists he is not bitter about his dismissal, telling Deadline.com, "You have to let that go. I sat here and talked to Todd about it. I like Todd. How could you not like Todd? He's smart and he's gifted and so are the other people in the film. It's okay. You just have to let that go... It shows you a few things. You just move on and go okay. I'm not greatly offended by it. It seemed like a good idea at the time and it went south." »

Celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay is distancing himself from the running of his restaurant in New York after a kitchen worker filed a complaint of sexual harassment against several male colleagues.

Commis chef Janet Kim lodged a complaint with the State Division of Human Rights earlier this month alleging she was targeted while working at Ramsay's eaterie at The London NYC hotel in Manhattan.

As the proprietor of the restaurant, Ramsay is named in the papers - but his representative has moved swiftly to distance the TV chef from the scandal.

A spokeswoman for the star tells the New York Post, "Neither Gordon Ramsay or (sic) Grh (Gordon Ramsay Holdings) have any responsibility for the operation of the restaurant, including anything to do with human resources, which is entirely the responsibility of the owners." »

Nielsen embarked on an affair with "charming" Schwarzenegger and she has opened up about the romance in her upcoming autobiography You Only Get One Life.

In the tome, serialised in Britain's The Sun, the actress reveals she knew her marriage to Winding was over when she became intimate with Schwarzenegger, but still experienced a "deep sense of guilt" about the romance.

She writes, "Of course it was soon apparent that the two of us had energy between us and at length it channelled itself into an outrageous affair.

"We both knew that when the film was finished, so were we. Time was limited so we didn't hold back - we really made the most of it. The set lights would barely be off before we disappeared to do our thing. We wanted time to ourselves and we wanted to try everything. And when we were alone, that's exactly what we did.

"Not surprisingly I wasn't honest with my husband Kasper about what was going on with Arnold. I already knew the marriage was over but the affair meant there was really no going back. I paid for all the fun we had with a deep sense of guilt."

Filmmaker Sebastian Junger has paid tribute to British photojournalist and director Tim Hetherington, who was killed in Libya earlier this week (begs18Apr11).

Hetherington, who co-directed and produced hard-hitting Oscar-nominated documentary Restrepo with Junger, was filming the ongoing unrest in the country when he was caught in an explosion in Misrata on Wednesday.

Junger was devastated to learn of his pal's death and he has written a moving tribute to Hetherington for Vanity Fair's website, praising the star for raising awareness of "terrible, ugly stories".

Comparing their desire to cover the unrest to a "beautiful woman" they loved, he writes, "We were always trying to have one more dance with her without paying the price. All those quiet, huddled conversations we had in Afghanistan: Where to walk on the patrols, what to do if the outpost gets overrun, what kind of body armour to wear.

"You were so smart about it, too - so smart about it that I would actually tease you about being scared. Of course you were scared - you were terrified. We both were... I'm so sorry, Tim. The conversation we could have had about this crazy stunt of yours! Christ, I would have yelled at you, but you know that. Getting mad was how we kept each other safe, how we kept the other from doing something stupid."

Mel Gibson is confident he will achieve "some kind of justice" as he fights for custody of his young daughter because he has "a lot of faith" in the court system.

The Braveheart star split from his ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva early last year and she went on to accuse him of beating her in a violent domestic dispute, while tapes of their arguments leaked online.

Gibson pleaded no contest to a charge of battery last month, but the former couple's court battle is far from over as they continue to fight over custody arrangements for their young daughter, Lucia.

The troubled actor admits he is forbidden from talking about the case due to a court order, but he is convinced he will secure a fair agreement with his former partner.

He tells Deadline.com, "It's important to me that it's dealt with correctly and it's important that I maintain my integrity through this for the sake of those I love. So speaking about it is just not on and apart from anything else, I'm prohibited by court order.

"Now, the system is flawed as we know, but you've got to ride with that. I think that it will all eventually come out in the wash and I'm depending on that. I have a lot of faith in that... At the end of the day, they're trying to work in a fashion that achieves some kind of justice. I'm going to hook my hitch onto that and follow that through." »

British actress Joanna Lumley has paid tribute to a Gurkha she credits with saving her father's life, following the war veteran's death on Wednesday.

The Absolutely Fabulous star's dad, Major James Rutherford Lumley, fought alongside the Nepalese soldiers in the British army.

Lumley has long campaigned for Gurkhas who served to be allowed to live in the U.K. and her drive was backed by Tul Bahadur Pun, who she credits with saving her dad's life in 1944.

Earlier this week, Pun, 88, died in Nepal, where he was viewing a school that had been built in his village, Myagdi.

Lumley has now paid tribute to the late soldier, saying, "Ever since I was a small child this man has been my hero. He was a great man, a humble person who dedicated his life to service and our country and in later life to the cause of justice and education.

“People like this come along once in a lifetime and we should celebrate their lives. Now that he has gone, the world is a little bit sadder.”

A funeral will take place in Nepal, while a memorial service is expected to be held in London. »

Mel Gibson has publicly thanked his friend Whoopi Goldberg for defending him when tape recordings of his arguments with ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva were leaked online, insisting he "loves" her for the support.

The Braveheart star hit headlines last year when he split from Grigorieva and she subsequently accused him of attacking her during a heated argument last January, while tapes of their bitter arguments later emerged online.

Following the release of the tapes, Goldberg stood by Gibson, insisting the public would be shocked if they heard some of her angry phone calls, too, saying, "I can't defend someone who got angry like that but we all get angry. I've cussed people out. I hope no one finds those tapes."

The actor has now thanked his pal for her words, telling Deadline.com, "I knew Whoopi before she was Whoopi. And, as she’s great and I always liked her and loved her. I like her even more now because she got it... I love her for it (taking flack for me)."

Gibson pleaded no contest to a simple battery charge in court last month relating to the alleged attack on Grigorieva. He was sentenced to three years probation and a year of counselling. »

Brit Paul Bettany has taken aim at "whining actors", insisting they should "get a real job" and let a grateful wannabe take their place.

The straight-talking Legion star admits he cannot tolerate castmates who complain about trailers and services on film sets - because he thinks all actors and actresses should be thankful they are doing something they love.

Bettany, who is married to actress Jennifer Connelly, rages, "Something like 90 per cent of actors are not working and you are. That's why I hate hearing actors moan: 'I have to be in Mexico for five months... Oh no, I've gotta go to f**king Tokyo...' F**king grow up! Go get a real f**king job and let somebody else go." »

TV icon Carol Burnett has offered her sympathy to actor Martin Sheen for having to cope with son Charlie Sheen's addiction problems - because she suffered a similar situation with her teenage daughter.

The actress' daughter Carrie, who died of cancer at the age of 38 in 2002, became addicted to drugs as a youngster - but Burnett was able to stage an intervention and get her placed in rehab when she was 17.

Carrie managed to stay sober - but Burnett feels for Sheen, because he has less influence on his adult son, whose addiction issues have hit the headlines in recent months.

Burnett tells CNN host Piers Morgan, "Carrie got sober when she was 17, so she had a wonderful period there, before she died at 38, of sobriety and great success in her career... She was an actress, she did a lot of television shows, she had a lead in Fame... she was a writer, she was a director and so forth... I think it's easier when they're younger and you can get them sober...

"The trick was I got her into rehab before she was going to turn 18 and it was tough love. She hated me, she was mad and so forth. She went through the rehab and we went through this family thing with this particular program, and it clicked for her. It's harder (when you're older like Charlie Sheen)... Maybe his dad can't interfere any more but it doesn't mean his heart isn't breaking." »

Mel Gibson has opened up about his decision to plead no contest to allegations he attacked his ex-girlfriend Oksana Grigorieva, insisting he did it for the "sake of" his family.

The Braveheart star is still locked in a bitter custody battle with Grigorieva over their baby daughter Lucia following their split early last year.

The Russian singer accused Gibson of attacking her during a heated argument last January, claiming two of her teeth were knocked out in the alleged altercation. Taped recordings of her phone calls with Gibson were also leaked online and the actor was purportedly heard raging at Grigorieva and hurling expletives.

The star pleaded no contest to a misdemeanour charge of simple battery charge in court last month and was sentenced to three years probation and a year of counselling.

Gibson now maintains he chose the plea to bring the legal battle to a swift end, telling Deadline.com, "I was allowed to end the case and still maintain my innocence. It’s called a West plea and it’s not something that prosecutors normally allow. But in my case, the prosecutors and the judge agreed that it was the right thing to do.

"I could have continued to fight this for years and it probably would have come out fine. But I ended it for my children and my family. This was going to be such a circus. You don’t drag other people in your life through this sewer needlessly, so I’ll take the hit and move on."

Gibson has also spoken out about the leaked tapes, insisting they are not representative of how he truly is: "Who anticipates being recorded? Who anticipates that? Who could anticipate such a personal betrayal? I’ve never treated anyone badly or in a discriminatory way based on their gender, race, religion or sexuality - period.

"I don’t blame some people for thinking that though, from the garbage they heard on those leaked tapes, which have been edited. You have to put it all in the proper context of being in an irrationally, heated discussion at the height of a breakdown, trying to get out of a really unhealthy relationship. It’s one terribly, awful moment in time, said to one person, in the span of one day and doesn’t represent what I truly believe or how I’ve treated people my entire life." »

Actor Taylor Kitsch has been inspired to take photography seriously after portraying renowned combat snapper Kevin Carter in hard-hitting new movie The Bang Bang Club.

Kitsch admits playing the risk-taking South African photographer gave him a deep appreciation of the art and now he's hoping to exhibit the shots he took on set.

The X-Men Origins: Wolverine star says, "I definitely got caught up with it all. I don't think I'm that good yet, maybe farther down the road. I still have the camera I used to shoot the photos in the film.

"There's a scene where a guy is throwing a Molotov cocktail (bomb) at one of the trucks, so I was taking real photos there and I blew those up and have them on my wall at home with the recreation of the cover of the book The Life and Death of Kevin Carter.

"Hopefully we'll see the photos in an exhibit or I can put a photography book together."

Carter lost his battle with depression and committed suicide in 1994, aged 33.

Kitsch hopes his new film, which also stars Ryan Phillippe, will honour the work of war photographers and combat photojournalists, like Carter and Brit Tim Hetherington, who was killed by a bomb blast while filming the ongoing unrest in Libya on Wednesday.

The actor adds, "I think it's a great time for this film. It just makes it that much more relevant. Any attention you can bring to these cats, what they sacrificed, is good. We all take for granted what these guys do out there and what they put out every day.

"It (filming) was pretty much a wake-up call for me because we can all be quite selfish sometimes and these guys are risking their lives. The camera is really their gun and their way of making a difference. You never hear about the journalist that rescued someone or did something to prevent something worse from happening... It's a sacrifice that these photographers are making to expose this." »

Nicolas Cage's rocker son Weston is to wed his fiancee on Easter Sunday, according to new reports.

The Eyes of Noctum star proposed to girlfriend Nikki Williams earlier this month and the couple is already planning a trip down the aisle.

Sources close to the couple tell TMZ.com, 20-year-old Weston and Williams kept the engagement a secret until earlier this week (beg18Apr11) when they posted the news on their Facebook pages.

Reports suggest the two will wed in New Orleans, Louisiana, where the father of the groom-to-be was arrested and charged with domestic violence and disturbing the peace after a street row with his wife Alice Kim last weekend.

Weston is Cage's son from his romance with actress Christina Fulton. »

Actress Jane Krakowski is a new mum - the 30 Rock star gave birth to baby boy Bennett last week (ends15Apr11).

The tot was born in New York last Wednesday.

The son is the first child for Krakowski and her fiance Robert Godley.

A statement from the happy couple reads, "Jane Krakowski and Robert Godley are thrilled to announce the arrival of their baby boy, Bennett Robert Godley, born Wednesday, April 13, in New York. Bennett, the first child for both Jane and Robert, weighed 7 lbs 12 ounces and is sporting blonde hair just like his mom!"

Krakowski tells Us Weekly magazine, "Bennett is an amazing, healthy sweet boy and we are both just crazy in love with him." »